Partition slab



Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARTITION SLAB Application June 29, 1932. Serial No. 619,914

6 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a partition construction, which may also be used in the construction of fiobrs, cei1ings, etc., instead of the usual wood board, hollow steel, stud and plaster, terra cotta tile, etc., which is fireproof or fire resisting and provides efiicient sound insulation.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a partition siab of molded construction of non-combustible material, which may be formed more or 1655 porous to meet the requirements for which the slab is to be used. Magnesite, gypsum, or 0ther suitable non-combustible materials may be used for the molded body portion, which is entirely enclosed on four sides with a surface metal covering, of steel, bronze, aluminum, etc., and which is of novel and pecu1iar construction which Will be described hereinafter in connection with the description of the iilustrative embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawing, in which like parts in the several views have been given the same reference numeral.

Fig. 1 is a sectional pian view of a typical partition arrangement; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of one of the slabs before the surface metal covering has been positioned thereon; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a partition wall.

The partition slabs are provided with interlocking end members, in the form of male and female pieces} shown at the right and left of Fig. 2. These may be termed binding and metal connecting strips and are formed of sheet metal permanently attached to or molded into or embedded in the ends or vertical edges of the body portion of the slab l8. After the mold is dried, the side faces are smoothed by a machine process or 0therwise and sized to the exact thickness required, after which the surface metal is placed in position and cemented thereto.

The end pieces each comprise a wedge shaped 40 channel, as shown in Fig. 2. Referring to the maie member, shown .at the right, the channel member is formed with a fiat bottom portion 8 with diverging side walls 2 and 2' extending from either side thereof, ears 4 and 4 extending outwardly in opposite directions from the outer edges of said side walls 2 and 2' and terminating in 1ips 6 and 6 bent and extending angularly therefrom and embedded in the body portion 18 of the slab, the angle between the said side wall 2 and 2 and the cars 4 and 4 respectively, being an acute angle in this male member and an obtuse angle between the corresponding parts, 33' and 11, of the female member, shown at the left of Fig. 2.

The corresponding parts of the female end piece (at the left of Fig. 2) are the fiat bottom portion 5, the diverging side walls 3 and 3, the ears 1 and 1 and the iips 7 and 7.

A series of perforations, such as indicated at 9, are formed in the fiat bottom portion 8 of the maie end piece and also in the corresponding portion of the emale member, 5, and also a series of upset perforations, indicated at 16 and 17 in Figs. 1 and 2, are formed in the ears 4 and 4' of the maie member and also the corresponding parts, 1 and 1, of the female member. The holes in the bottom of the channel permit the escape of air, etc., and the material of the body portion to be forced snugiy against the bottom and into the holes. The upset perforations, 16 and 17, also become 7 embedded in the material being moulded into the body portion and prevent the end pieces from slipping after becoming attached thereto.

The side covering, shown positioned upon the slabs in Fig. 1, is also iormed of sheet metal and 7 each comprises a fiat body portion, 10-11, having inwardly extending side walls, 12-14, With inwardly bent edge portions, 1315, engaged over the vertical edges of the siab and the ears, 4-4 and 11, of the said end pieces or binding strips 30 carried thereon and held in position With the fiat body portion, 10-11, thereof snugly engaged against the fiat sides of the slab and preferably cemented thereto.

The side walls (1213 and 1415) of the surface metal coverings are sufiiciently resilient or yielding to enable the same to be bent or sprung outwardly to permit the placing of the covering in place, when the same snap back into engagement with the ends of the slab, as described.

The slabs are interlocked in the manner shown in Fig. 1 and the spaces between the interlocking ends filled With a suitable caulking material or cernent, as indicated at 19 and 20. At a corner set-up, the space in the end pieces may be filled in a 1ike manner, as indicated at 21, and angle pieces, 22 and 23, positioned about the intersection to hold the slabs.

The angle pieces 22 and 23 are preferably of drawn sheet metal. The outer piece, 23, is formed With a curved central portion and inwardly extending ends, as shown at 24 and 25 at one end and dupiicated at the opposite end of the same. An inner holding member 26 is formed with recesses or grooves, indicated at 27 and 27, to receive the projecting end pieces and the ends of the same is formed with inwardly extending portions, one of which is indicated at 28, which engage the end portions 24-25 of the outer piece 23 and hold thesame in position when the screws, one of which is shown at 29, are tightened, these screws also holding the inner angle piece 22 in position against the inner surface of the slabs, as shown in Fig. 1.

Where the partition abuts a permanent wall, as shown at the right of Fig. 1, a channel member 42, of sheet metal and formed with extensions 43 and 43', is secured to the permanent wall by means of screws 44 threaded into expansion shields 45, of the usual construction for attachment t0 a plaster wall.

The slabs may be very light in weight for use with a steel frame construction of corresponding light weight construction.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated one method of assembling the slabs in position to form a partition wall, which may be readily put together or removed and changed in position, as required. In this arrangement a channel member 30, forming a base, formed of rolled sheet metal, or otherwise, is secured to the fioor by means of the screws 31 threaded into expansion shields 32, of the usual construction provided for a screw threaded attachment to a cernent wall, fioor, or similar material into which the screw can not be threaded directly. A channel or L-shape member, also of rolled sheet metal construction, is shown at 33 and is secured to the ceiling by means of the screws 34 threaded into expansion shields 35 in a lil e manner. This ceiling channel member is formed with one side longer than the other, to permit the slabs to be placed in the lower channel 30 in a tilted position and swung into engagement with the long side of the upper channel member 33. This movement would be from the right to the left, as shown in Fig. 3.

A number of spring clips, such as shown at 36, are then secured along the upper edge of the slab 18 by means of screws, which may be of the selftapping type, or bolts extending through the clip 36, the long side of the channel member 33 and the metal side covering 11 of the slab 18, one of these fastenings being shown in Fig. 3 with the screw or bolt indicated at 37.

A sheet metal molding, such as shown at 38, is

then positioned against this side of the upper edge of the slab by slipping the lower edge thereof under the extending end of the clip 36 and moving the upper edge inwardly past the curved upper end of the clip 36, by means of which it is held securely in position, as shown. On the opposite side of the upper edge of the slab 18 a similar spring clip, or a number of the same, as shown at 39, are attached to the upper edge of the slab by means of the screws or bolts 40, which extend through the metal side covering 10 of the slab 18. A metal molding 41 is then positioned in the same manner as described for the molding 38, thus forming a cornice.

The advantages of a partition construction such as described with the slabs constructed in accordance with my invention will be apparent and the same not only provides a low cost for the construction but the salvage value is increased, as the slabs may be removed, as required, and stored for future use, on account of the provision for assembling and taking down of the partition. Furthermore, an easy and quick erection of the partition is made possible and the same may be of as light weight as is desired and, at the same time, have the necessary rigidity and strength.

The slabs may be built at the factory for any particular arrangement and provision made for door and window frames or borrowed lights in accordance with any desired plan or lay-out, or may be made in standard or stock sizes, shapes,

etc., which may be readily adapted to the desired use, and the same may be painted, grained, or otherwise ornamented at the factory, resulting in a saving of cost, as will be understood.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A partition slab comprising a body portion of fire proof or fire resisting material having its side and ends enclosed by sheet metal members, the end members being in the form of male and female binding strips moulded or embedded into the vertical edges of the slab and each comprising a wedge shaped channel having a fiat bottom and diverging side walls extending from either side thereof, ears extending outwardly in opposite directions from the outer edges of said side walls and terminating in lips bent and extending angularly therefrom and embedded in the body portion of the slab, the angle between said side walls and ears being an acute angle in the male end piece and an obtuse angle in the female end piece, respectively, side coverings comprising a fiat body portion having inwardly extending side walls with inwardly bent edge portions engaged over the vertical edges of the slabs and the ears of said binding strips carried thereon and held in position with the fiat body portions thereof snugly engaged against the fiat sides of the slab.

2. In a partition slab such as described, interlocking end members embedded into the vertical edges of the body portion of the slab and each comprising wedge shaped channel portions having a fiat bottom and diverging side walls extending from either side thereof and formed with 110 a series of upset perforations and openings embedded in the body portion of the slab to prevent displacement thereof, and side coverings having resilient edge portions adapted to be engaged over the ends of the slab and end pieces 115 carried thereby to hold said side coverings in position snugly engaged with the fiat sides of said body portion and, together with said end pieces, enclosing four sides of the completed slab.

3. In 9. partition slab such as described, interlocking end members embedded in and permanently secured to the edges of the body portion and each comprising a sheet metal wedge shaped channel having a fiat bottom portion with diverging side walls extending from either side thereof, ears extending outwardly in opposite directions from the outer edges of said side walls and terminating in lips bent and extending angularly therefrom and embedded in the body portion of the slab, the angle between the said side walls and ears being an acute angle in the end piece on one edge of the slab and an obtuse angle on the opposite end piece, side coverings of sheet metal positioned on opposite sides of said body portion of the slab, said side coverings being formed with resilient edge portions adapted to be engaged over the ends of the slab and to hold the same in position snugly against the sides of the body portion of the slab and 140 forming, with the said end pieces, an enclosure extending around four sides of the slab.

4. A partition wall comprising a number of interlocking slabs positioned and resting in a base channel member secured to the fioor, an 145 upper channel member formed with one wall longer than the other and secured to the ceiling into which said slabs are engaged against said longer wall, a number of spring clips attached along the upper edge of said slabs on either 150 side thereoi, the clips on one side being attached to the said long side of said upper channel by means of a fastening screw extending through said clip and side wall of the channel into the slabs, and moldings positioned against either side of the upper ends of said slabs and the ceiling and held in position by engagement therewith of said spring clips, permitting the positioning and removal of the same.

5. A partition wall comprising a number of interlocking slabs positioned and resting in a base channel member secured to the floor, an upper channel member formed to receive the top of said slabs, mouldings positioned against either side of the upper ends of said slabs and the ceiling and held in position by removable attaching means to said upper channel, a corner assembly comprising inner and outer angle pieces and an inner holding member removably secured together to provide a holding support for adjacent slabs positioned therein at right angles to each other, and a channel member secured to the permanent wall in which the extreme ends of the partition are positioned and held.

6. A partition slap adapted to be interlocked with other simar slabs to form a partition wall, comprising a body portion of fire-proof or fireresisting material, end pieces provided with lips embedded in the opposite vertical edges of said body portion and formed as male and female members for interlocking abutting edges of said slabs, side coverings secured against the sides of the body portion of the slab, said side coverings having inwardly bent edge portions resiliently engaged over and embedded in the vertical edges of the body portion of the slab adjacent the lips of said end pieces for positioning and securing the said side coverings to said body portion, the

said and pieces and side coverings enclosing four 

